Ticket feeding and printing



Dec. 3, 1935.

C. A. FLOOD TICKET FEEDING AND PRINTING Filed Jan. 5, 1933 10Sheets-Sheet l AWAF 3,1935. c. A. FLOOD TICKET FEEDING- AND PRINTING-Filed Jan 5, 193a 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 .[llfli C. A. FLOOD TICKET FEEDINGAND RRINTING Dec. 3, 1935.

10 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Jan. 5, 1953 Dec. 3, 1935. c. A. FLOOD TICKETFEEDING AND PRINTING 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 5, 1933 Dec. 3, 1935.

c. A. FLOO D TICKET FEEDING AND PRINTING Filed Jan. 5, 1955 10Sheets-Sheet 5 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 3, 1935.

. 3, 1935. c. A. FLOOD TICKET FEEDING AND PRINTING Fil ed Jan. 5, 193310 Sheets-Sheet 7 El n l l 2 1| Dec; 3, 1935.

C. A. FLOOD TICKET FEEDING AND PRINTING Filed Jan. 5, 1953 10Sheets-Sheet 8 I ('krZ 14.1 0;,

Dec. 3, 1935. c. A. FLOOD TICKET FEEDING AND PRINTING 10 Sheets Sheet 9Filed Jan. 5, 1933 r, s L g 9 m m E 1% RM Z G W E U E i i E a Eh QM EN QJ RN www Sm \Q E %\m. mxmf fi m WWW \\m y QM \ww EN N E E Dec. 3, 193 5.c. A. FLOOD I 2,023,045

TICKET FEEDING AND PRINT ING Filed Jan. 5, 1933 l0 SheetS-Sheet 10'Patented Dec. 3, 1935 v UNITED STATES TICKET resume AND ram-nun ,Carl A.Flood, Framingham, Mesa, asslgnor to Dennison Manufacturing Company,Framingham, Masa, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 5,1933, Serial No. 650,285

28 Claims. (01. 27188) This invention relates to-the art of printingtickets and the like, and particularly to machines for both printing andattaching price tickets to articles such as garments and other articlesof merchandise. In many commercial establishments, such as departmentstores, it is customary to mark certain classes of merchandise withtickets having a single set of indicia printed thereon and to mark otherclasses of merchandise with-tickets having the indicia printed induplicate in two locations on the same ticket, the tickets printed induplicate usually being larger than those printed in a ,single location.To print and attach these different kinds of tickets, different machineshave been employed heretofore, thus requiring duplication of equivalentand in many cases disproportionate expense.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine which printstickets with the same indicia in two locations and which is alsoadapted, by quick and easy adjustment, to be converted into asingle-printing machine, that is, a machine for printing each ticket inonly one location. For this purpose the machine is preferably providedwith selectively operable means controlled by a handle havingtwooperating posi-' tions in one of which each ticket is printed in onelocation, and in the other of which each ticket is printed in duplicatein two,locations, together with conjointly operating means adapted tofeed the tickets along the aforesaid track by steps corresponding'to thelength of the tickets being printed. After the tickets are printed theyare r advanced along the track to a delivery station which, ashereinafter set forth, also may con- ,stitute an attaching station.

A further object is to provide a machine which is adapted not only toprint long or short tickets selectively as aforesaid, but also to attachtickets of either kind to fabric or the like, preferably with the pin,staple or other attaching device-inserted in the same relation to oneedge of the ticket. I The preferred means for accomplishing thisinvolves feeding devices which engage the strip and severed ticketrespectively, to move the strip into position for severing the foremostticket from the strip and to move the severed ticket to the attachingstation, the printings effected adjacent the cutter in advance of theattaching station, at least one printing being effected while the stripis in position to sever the foremost ticket, and the travel of eachticket from severing position to the attaching station tions of theticket attaching mechanism;

whether singly or in duplicate preferably being being the same whetherthe ticket be long or short.

Other objects of the invention will be evident from the followingdescription of the typical embodiments shown in the accompanyingdrawings, 5 in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a sideelevation with part of the housing removed;

lFig i is a rear view with parts broken away and omitted to show theoperating mechanism in elevation;

Figs. 5 and 6 are top plan views of the ticket feeding and guidingmechanism, showing the parts in different short-ticket feedingpositions;

Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section through the ticket stripguiding means with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views like Figs. 5 and 6, showing the parts indifierent long-ticket feeding positions;

' Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in front elevation, showing the pin stripguiding means and por- Fig. 11 is a top plan of the parts shown in Fig.10;

Fig. 12 is a'section on line l2-i2 of Fig. 10;

Figs.- 13, 14 and 15 are front, side and plan views of anotherembodiment, the front cover plate being removed in'Fig. l3; and

Fig. 16 is a section on line ill-l6 of Fig. 15.

In theapparatus selected for illustration in Figs. 1 to 12 the operatingparts are mounted within and upon a frame or housing comprising a basein which is provided with a depression l2 (Fig. 3) in which the drivingmotor i3 is mounted. Front and rear walls M are mounted on the base andsupport a top or table H. The

of the machine and is provided with a removable section or plate l8which closes an opening'lQ through which access may be had to theinterior parts from this side of the machine. A cam shaft 26 isrotatably mounted-in bearings 21 and 28 carried by the front and rearwalls. Power is transmitted from the driving motor to the cam shaftthrough reduction gearing, comprisinga I worm 29 and a worm wheel 30,and a one-revolution clutch 3! (Fig. 3). The cam shaft has affixedthereon peripheral cams 32, 33, 34 and 38 and a double face cam 3'l'having grooves 38 (Fig. l) and 39v (Fig. 4) in the opposite facesthereof.

Mechanism for feeding and for operating upon tickets is mounted upon thetop or table portion 4| and 4| and aligned marginal strips 42, 42" and43, 43', the latter serving to confine and guidethe tickets along thebase strip toward the front of the machine. At one side of this guidewaya slot 44 is formed in the top of the housing to receive the upwardlyextending arms of bell cranks 46 and 41. At its upper end each armcarries a stub shaft 48 and '49 respectively. The stub shaft 49 carriesa.pivotally mounted feed pawl or finger 5| which normally is 'urgeddownwardly toward the guideway by the action of a coil spring 52. Thestub shaft 48 carries a relatively long finger or pusher 53 which islikewise urged downwardly toward the guideway by the action of a coilspring 54. 'The bell crank 46 is mounted to pivot on a stub shaft 56(Fig. 3) and carries on its lower arm a roller or follower 51 which isheld in engagement with the peripheral cam 32 by the action of aretracting spring 58. In a similar manner the bell crank 41 is mountedto pivot on a stub shaft 59 carried by the frame, and the lower arm ofthis bell crank is fitted with a roller or follower 6| which is heldagainst the cam 33 by a retracting spring 62.

At a suitable point along the ticket guideway a cutter or knife 63. ismounted to extend across the guideway from side to side and to cooperatewith hardened insert strips 64 and 66 for severing the ticket from thestrip. Preferably the adjacent upper edges of both of the'inse'rt strips64 and 66 are cutting edges which cooperate. with similar cutting edgesof the cutter 63 so that the material between adjacent tickets will bedied out as the cutter descends. Preferably the material so removed isdischarged to one side of the machine through a chute (not shown)" 4gageable with cam 36 and which normally is urged toward the cam by aretracting spring 89, but this movement is limited as the cam recedes bya stop or abutment 1| (Fig. 4) which engages the end of a slot in thetable through which the bellcrank operates andthus limits upwardmovement of the cutting blade.

The horizontal shaft 68 on which the cutter mechanism is mounted forrelative rotary movement is also rotatably supported in bearings 12 and13 carried by the table portion II. This shaft 68 functions as a pivotpin for a bell crank comprising aprinting arm 14 extending upwardlyabove the machine and a depending arm 16 having at its lower end a boss11 which slidably receives a pin 18 carrying a follower roller 19'(Fig'.4). The depending arm 16 also I has pivotally mounted thereon a lever 8|extendas viewed in Fig. 2, the follower is spaced to engage the cam 84"and also the cam 36, but when the upper end of the lever 8| is thrown tothe left, the lower end, through its connection with the follower,causes the latter to be displaced to the right so that the followerroller ll of the housing and comprises an open guide-- way (Figs. 5 to 9formed by aligned base strips is in position to be engaged only by cam34. It will be apparent that by shifting the lever 8| the printing arm14 may be made responsive to the action of one or both of the came 34and 36, the follower in each instance being held against one of the camsat all times by the action of a retracting spring 84 (Fig. 4) connectedto the lower arm of the bell crank. Thus this mech- .anism constitutesselectively operable means for v rocated through a sufiicient strokelongitudinally of the guideway to be capable of feeding relatively longtickets (Figs. 8 and 9), but when shorter tickets are used the latterare advanced by the pawl 5| during a part of the full stroke thereof.The tickets are restrained from moving too freely along the guideway bya flat strip 1 86, which extends longitudinally above the guideway andbears downwardly upon the ticket strip disposed therein. This flat stripis also adjustable longitudinally of the guideway to cooperate with thepawl 5| when feeding short tickets. Thus when feeding the shortertickets 85 (Figs. 5 to '7), the plate 86 is arranged to extend forwardlybeneaththe pusher pawl 53 to engage and lift the feed pawl 5| as thelatter moves rearwardly, and to permit this .feed pawl to descend againinto engagement with the ticket strip at. the proper point to engage aticket, preferably to engage an aperture ornotch between adjacenttickets of the size being-used. This strip 86 carries at its rear end anupwardly extended threaded pin 81 which is received in a longitudinalslot 88 formed in a rearwardly extending guide strip 89 carried-by abridge piece 90 attached to guide strips 42 and 43. The rear end ofthisguide strip curves upwardly and then forwardly for guiding a strip oftickets into the channel formed by the guide strips 42 and 43. A

nut 8| threaded upon the pin 81 is provided for holding the strip 86 inthe desired position of adjustment longitudinally of the guideway, theseparts comprising selectively operable means for .feeding short-ticketstrips and long-ticket strips by steps proportional to the lengths ofthe tickets respectively. The pawl 5| is adapted to move forwardlypreferably substantially to the cutter blade 68 so as to advanceeachticket as it is engaged by the pawl to a proper position beneath thecutter for severing from the strip. The pusher 53 is adapted to advanceeach ticket from substantially the positionshown in Figs. 5 and 7 to theposition shown in Fig. 6 at which the forward end of the pusher isdisposed substantially at the front side of the machine adjacent theticket attaching apparatus. In advancing from the position shown in Fig.7 to that shown in Fig. 6, the pusher is caused by its actuating cam 32to dwell as the detached ticket arrives beneath the printing head 92inc. proper position for printing (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5)and then after the printing operation, to continue the advance todeliver the printed ticket from the guideway 4| to the ticket attachingstation.

Thus it will be seen-that each ticket is advanced in a progressivestroke from a position in the ticket strip where it is first engaged bythe feed. pawl II and brought beyond the cutter t a position forsevering, at which time both th feed pawl and the pusher are disengagedfrom the ticket (Fig. 5) and the latter is held yieldably against thebase of the guideway by longitudinally extending spring fingers 93 and94. The parts are so timed that as a'ticket is engaged by. the retainingor holding fingers 93 and 94, both the pusher 53 and feed pawl 5| areretracted so as to approach the positions shown in Fig. 5 and the cutteris actuated by cam 36 to sever the ticket. I

When only one printing is to be made upon such a ticket, the shifter arm8| should-be thrown to the left or to the opposite position from thatshown in Fig. 2, so that the follower 19 will engage only the cam 32.This cam and the cam which actuates the pusher are so correlated anddesigned that the pusher is caused to advance the ticket and to causethe latter to dwell beneath the printing head 92 while the cam 34 causesthe head to descend and make a printing impression upon the ticketduring the dwell thereof, after which the ticket is advanced by thepusher to the ticket 1 attaching mechanism. This cycle of operation is aprinting impression on the leading or lower end" of a long ticket, dueto the action of cam 36 while the ticket is in the position shown inFig. 8, and just before the cutter is actuated by the cam 30.Immediately after this first printing impression is made the cutterdescends, severs the ticket,

and the pusher advances the ticket as before, causing the latter todwell beneath the printing head (Fig. 9) as the second impression ismade and then delivering the ticket to the attaching mechanism.

The conditions necessary for best-efiiciency in the operation of thisapparatus are that the cutter be spaced from the printing head on oneside or the other, although preferably on the side shown, at .a distanceto sever a long ticket when the end portion or leading end of the latterextends beneath the printing head in position for printing. It is alsoadvantageous to sever the ticket from the strip and print the firstimpression thereon during the same interruption or dwell at the forwardor progressive stroke of the ticket.

This arrangement together with the cooperating cams 3d and 30 makes itpossible always to print a single impression on long or short ticketsand yet, when desired, to print in duplicate on long tickets.

Means are provided for inking type carried by the printing head 02before each printing impression, irrespective of whether one'or moreimpressions are made upon each ticket. This mechanism comprises aninking pad 98 (Fig. 4) carried by the lower end of an arm 08 mountedupon a fixed shaft or pivot 09. The printing head is pivotally connectedto the inking pad arm by a link IOI of suchproportions as to force theinking pad against the type at the upper limit of the stroke of theprinting arm. Preferably the parts a are so arranged that the cams 34and 36. by which the printing head is actuatdrecede far enough as theprinting head approaches the upper limit "of its stroke to leave thishead under the influence of the retracting spring 84. Thus this springis eflective for bringing the inking pad yieldably against the type.

As a severed and printed ticket is moved forwardly out of the guideway4| bythe action of the pusher 53 as the latter moves to the positionshown in Fig. 6, the ticket is received beneath a downwardly extendingcusp I02 (Fig. 1') and above the point of an upwardly directed cusp I03,

The material forming the cusp I02 recedes from the point thereofupwardly above the ticket along a concave curve providing a rigidabutment I08 against which the ticket may be forced for crimp ing duringattachment. Directly below the abutment I08 and the cusp I02 an anvilIII (Figs. 1 and 5) is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in aboss II2 carried by the front wall a of the housing. The upper end I00of this anvil is rounded ofi somewhat spherically so as to becomplementary to the downwardly curved lower edge of the abutment I08.The upper end of the anvil is alsoprovided with a groove II9 which maybe inclined slightly upwardly for directing a pin as the ticket is beingattached to the mate-- rial. These parts preferably are so proportionedand arranged that the groove I I0 aligns with an undercut groove I2Iformed in the cusp I02 (Fig. 10).

The anvil-is moved upwardly to hold material against a ticket as thelatter arrives at the attaching station shown in Fig. 6, to crimp theticket substantially as shown in Fig. 10, and is then withdrawn inproperly timed relation by a system of levers actuated from the groove38 of cam 31. From Fig. 1 it will be seen that a follower I 22 rides inthe groove 38 and actuates a bell crank I23 rotatably mounted on a pivotpin I24. Another bell crank I26 is mounted to pivot on the longer armon' bell crank I23, the shorter arms of these two bell cranks beingyieldably connected by a relatively strong retracting spring I21. Thelonger arm of the bell crank I28 is slotted to receive a pin I20 carriedby the lower end of the anvil III. The longer arm of the bell crank I23is provided with a lateraly extending lug I3I in which an adjustingscrew I32 is mounted to engage the bell crank I26.

During normal operation the adjusting screw is held firmly against thebell crank I26 by the action of the retracting spring I21, and as thelevers are actuated by the cam the anvil will be moved upwardly to.aposition, as shown in Fig. i

10, for guiding a pin during attachment, but due to the yieldableconnection of the parts, the anvil is permit'ed to yield against theaction of the spring IIB, thereby to accommodate difierences in' thecombined thickness of'ticket and material to which the ticket is'to beattached. It will be evident that while this anvil is illustrated inconnection with appara us for pinning a ticket to material, it also maybe used advantageously with other forms of attaching devices as, forexample, with means for stapling a ticket to material.

The pins for attaching the tickets are carried by a strip I35 .which isconducted downwardly into a guiding means indicated generally at I36.Thisguide may be formedconveniently from a back plate I31 (Fig. 12)having spaced pin strip" edges of the strip together. on the strip maycause rupturing thereof, espeedges undercut to diverge from the front orouter sides thereof to meet the back plate I31 posed substantiallyperpendicular to the back plate.

The ma erial forming one side of this slot is rounded smoothly, asindicated at I42, and then extends horizontally to provide a guidingsurface against which'the pin strip may be" held after the pins havebeen removed therefrom. The pins are retained in the strip in alignedand spaced relation by a guide channel formed by vertically disposed pinguide strips I43 and I44 which are attached to the inner strips I38 andI39 and overlie the outer ends of the pins as the strip I35 movesdownwardly. The pin guide strips I43 and I44 as well as the inner stripsI38 and I33 may be rigidly mounted to remain in a fixed spaced relation,if desired, as

very satisfactory results are, obtained by this construction.

The pins carried by the strip due to their frictional contact at thepin-receiving apertures tend to oppose folding of the strip and requirethat the latter be placed under considerable tension in constructionssuch as that just described where the fold is formed solely by theaction of the convergent passage in bringing the Excessive tensioncially about the lowermost pin, which may tear partially away so as topermit the strip to be pulled or advanced far enough to'cause relativeupward movement in the strip of the lowermost pin as this pin comes intothe grooves I53 and I54, thereby bringing the next pin so close to thepath of the pin driver. as to interfere with proper operation. In orderto avoid'occurrences of this kind it is desirable to provide forpressing the marginal edges of the pin strip toward each other justbefore each step advance of this strip.

This may be accomplished conveniently by arranging the inner lateraledges of the strip I 44 to follow the contour of the pin strip and .tocooperate with the edge of the strip I33 for guiding the adjacentmarginal portion of the pin strip. The strip I44 is also supported forrelative movement, preferably by being mounted to pivot or oscillate ona pivot screw I45. In order that movement of the strip I44 may beeffected automatically in properly timed relation, an

abutment I44 .carried by the movable strip I44 is arranged to extendinto the path of the pin driving mechanism to be engaged by the latteras a pin istransferred to a ticket. The movablestrip I44 has a verticalgroove I50 which receives and guides the headed ends of the pins whilethe fixed strip I43 has an offset portion which cooperates with theplate I38 to form' a similar groove I50 for receiving the pointedends'of the pins.

at I55 to provide clearance for the lower portion of the pin'strip aswell as a larger opening for observing the position of the pins.

' While in general the pin strip I35 may be of The lower end of thestrip I44 is notched" or cut away on front and back sides, as indicated4 usual construction, preferably it is formed with a weakened portionextending longitudinally between the rows of apertures in which the pinsare disposed. Thus the strip may have been perforated along alongitudinal line I46 (Fig. 10) 5 or it may have been previously foldedor creased or otherwise weakened along this line so as to facilitatefolding. It will be apparent that whatever means be adopted forweakening this strip, theline I46 representing the locationof 10 thisweakened portion should extend midway. between the longitudinal rows ofpin receiving apertures so that as the strip is folded longitudinallyupon itself, the two apertures in which each pin is disposed will'bebrought into regl5 i'ster. A strip of this type is disclosed 'andclaimed in my copending application Serial No. 501,053, filed December9, 1930.

The strip is inserted into the guide by folding the leading end thereofand inserting this folded 20 portion between the strip guiding membersI38 and I39-and pulling it downwardly and through the slot HI and aroundthe curved shoulder I42 to a pair of feeding rollers I 41 and I 48 (Fig.10).

These feeding rollers are preferably located to one side of the machineso as to carry portions of the strip from which the pins have beenremoved away 'from .the point of attachment of the tickets and out ofthe way of a person operating the machine. It will also be evident thatas the strip is first led to the machine, the pins must either beremoved from a suflicient portion of the leading and of the strip topermit the latter to extend between the feedingrollers I41 and I48 orthe strip should be provided with a blank por- .tion at its leading endof similar dimensions. It

will be seen that as this weakened pin strip is moved downwardly throughthe converging passage formed by the strip guiding members I38 and I33,the longitudinal edges of the strip will be brought together,thus'folding the strip longitudinally upon itself along the weakenedportion I46-and bringing the apertures in which each pin is disposedsubstantially into alignment. Each 'of the strip guides I38 and I39 hasformed on the lower end thereof an outwardly disposed ledge or shoulderI5I, I52 which extends across the path of pins carried by the strip forintercepting such pins as the strip descends or advances through theguide. Preferably aligned grooves I 53 and I54 are formed in the uppersides of these shoulders at the proper elevation to receive an advancingpin and to support and guide the latter while it is being in- 65 Iserted into a ticket. Thus thegroove I 53 is aligned with the groove I2Iformed in the under side of beak 2M.

' As each. pin is delivered into the grooves I53 and I54 it may beremoved from the folded Strip by being forced therethrough in adirection normal to the plane, of the folded portions of the strip. Whenremoval is effected in this manner, theonly resistance offered by thestrip is that which opposes movement of the head of the pin. Thisisreduced to a minimumwhen the strip is supported or backed up around theshank of the pin so as to prevent the head from tearing large holes inthe strip. However, if the backing or support for the strip provides toosmall a i clearance for the head of the 'pin, the head will shear orpunch out and carry with it an annular ring of paper as it passesthrough the pin strip. To avoid this undesirable result the groove I53may be enlarged, as by being counterbored for a y This latter slot,which may be arcuate or straight,

short distance from the slot Ill. This construction avoids excessiverupture of the strip and the disadvantages resulting therefrom and yetprovides practically all the desirable features of a direct shearingaction. While in some cases it may be preferred to back up the stripentirely around the shank of the pin, this is not necessary, for goodresults are obtained when the groove I53 is open along the upper side,as shown in the drawings.

The mechanism for transferring a pin from the pin strip into a ticketfor attaching the latter to material, is mounted in a frame,indicatedgenerally at its (Figs. 4, 10 and 11) and supported on a portion of thetop or table I1 of the housing which extends forwardly beyond the frontwall of .the housing. The strip guiding means I36 is carried by thisframe the back plate I31 being extended to form the back vertical wallof 'the frame and serves for supporting and guiding a moving parts. Apin driver rod iI-ii is fixedly secured in the desired position oflongitudinal adjustment in a. bore in the driver head I62 by means of aset screw N53. The pin driver rod is supported and guided in a pindriver hole in the guide ltd for movement through the grooves i553 and"Edit. The driver head I62 is mounted to slide along a passage providedby a slot in an elongate guide block 'itii which is attached to theadjacent portion of plate l31 (Fig. 11), the latter being providedwith aflange ltd. extending along the rear side thereof by which it isattached to the table ii. The rear vertical wall of the back plate I31provides a continuous guiding surface for a bar ill (Figs. 4 and 11).While this bar has a combined sliding and rocking motion it ishereinafter referred to as a slide bar orrnerely a bar. An upstandingbracket 112 (Fig. 11) is arranged in opposed relation to theaforementioned vertical surface and cooperates therewith for'guiding theslide bar. This slide bar normallyis urged toward the ticket attachingmechanism by a retracting spring I135. The slide bar also normallyextends beyond the guide R66 and carries a pivotally mounted springpressed feed pawl 51d (Figs. 4 and 10) which cooperates with the stripfeeding mechanism. The back plate I31 has an arcuate longitudinal slotI15 (Fig. 10), through which a driving connection or pin I11 may operatefreely for imparting 'the desired stroke or reciprocatory motion to thedriver head IE2. This driving pin fits snugly in a recess or notch I18formed in the driver head and also extends through a slot I19 (Fig. 4)in the slide bar.

as shown, is shorter in length than the normal full stroke of thedriving connection or pin I11 so that during each such stroke the slidebar is moved as the driving connection engages the ends of the slot we.

The pinstrip is fed through the guiding means I36 and held continuallyunder tension therein by the upper and lower feed rollers I41 and I48which are rotatably mounted in and between front and rear depending armsof an auxiliary frame IBI (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted upon the guide I66 andback plate I81. The upper'roller is provided with journals I41 and I41"(Figs. 1 and 3) which are mounted for vertical movementtoward and fromthe lower roller in vertical slots I82 formed in the arms of this framewhile thelower roller is mounted for rotation about a fixed axis. AU-shaped brace member A. or yoke I83 embraces the upper portion of the 4frame and has the lower ends of its depending 045 5 arms slotted toreceive and bear against the jourlnals of the upper roller.

A compression spring I 84 is mounted .upon a rod I86 amxed to the topportion of the frame I8I and extends freely through an aperture in the-top portion of member I83 (Fig. 4) A flat strip or .thumb piece I81 isinterposed between the top cross-piece of member I83 and the. topportion of the frame I8! and has an aperture through which the rod I86loosely extends. The spring I84 seats on the yoke I83 and is held underthe desired compression by a thumb nut I88 threaded on the upper end ofrod I86. It will be seen that the spring I84 acts through the yokemember yieldably to urge the journals of the upper roller downwardly andthus to produce a yieldable tension on the portion of the pin stripextending between these rollersymovement for this purpose being providedby-the slots Hi2 and N2 which receive the journals of the upper roller.This tension may be relieved temporarily by raising the thumb piece actso as to raise the yoke against the action of the spring. The lowerroller is provided with a central bushing We which extends beyond theside of the roller to carry a ratchet wheel 89L Preferably the surfaceof at least one of the feedrollers, as that of the lower roller, isformed with transverse ridges or corrugations or isotherwise roughenedto assure good adhesion and definite feeding of the pin strip as well asfor holding the latter under some tension while at rest. The ratchetmechanism for the roller feed is preferably adjusted so that each stepadvance of the rollers tends to feed the strip slightly more than thedistance between pins to insure that the foremost pin is seated againstthe ledges I5! and I52 (Figs. 13 and 14) the rollers then slippingslightly on the strip, I

The beak 2H for opening or spreading plies of the ticket to receive thepoint of the pin as the 40 latter is inserted may be supported by theback plate I31 which may be extended for this purpose to the left of thestrip guiding means, as viewed in Fig. 10, preferably substantially tothe side of the machine. On the forward side of this back plate the beakMI is pivotally mounted and has its lower end turned downwardly in theform of a relatively sharp, fiat and spear-like hook. This beak iswidened at its upper portion and carries a driving connection or pin 283which extends rearwardly through an arcuate slot 205 in the back plateI31. This driving connection or pin may be fixedly attached to theadjacent end of the slide bar HI, and the slot 204 may be so positionedand proportioned as to permit the beak 2M to move downwardly each timethe slide bar moves to the left to the extreme end of its stroke, asviewed in Fig. 10, and then as the slide bar returns to the right to theextreme end of its stroke in'this direction, the beak 20I will be movedupwardly so as to withdraw the pointed lower end thereof above the loweredge of plate I31. Preferably this beak operates in a slot formed in acover plate 206 which is attached to the plate I31. It will alsobefevident that if desired the strip I43 of the guiding means may beformed integral with this cover plate and that the tension member I86may operate in a similar slot in the inner side of the cover plate,which also provides the recess for the spring I01 engaging the tensionmember I 08.

The mechanism for operating the pin driver rod I8I and for operating thebeak 2M to spread the piles of a ticket to receive and to enclose thepoint of a pin as well as for operating the upper 7 and lower feedingrollers I41 and I43 is all actuated in properly timed relation with aone-lever motion. This motion is produced by the groove 39 in the cam 31which actuates a follower caran eye or swing bolt 2I2 mounted to pivotona pin 2I3 carried by the lever 201. This bolt extends through a boss orlug 2 on lever 2H and carries a compression spring 2I6 which seatsagainst the boss and is held under the desired tension by lock nuts2| 1. The bolt also carries lock nuts 2I8 which constitute a fixedabutment for engaging the boss 2I4 to move the pin driver to the left,as viewed in Fig. 4, or to'withdraw the pin driver rod. The spring 2I6is held under sufficient tension so that during normal operation thelevers 201 and 2I I operate as a bell crank and the swing bolt 2 I2constitutes merely a substantially rigid connection between the levers.However, in the event that the apparatus should not function properly ora pin should become jammed, or for some other reason it might beundesirable to force the pin driver or other portions of the mechanismthroughthe normal cycle of operation, the spring 2|6 is adapted to yieldso that although the lever 201 may continue to operate through itsnormal cycle, as produced by the cam' 31, yet only a part of this motionneed be transmitted to the lever 2| I.

The driving motor is controlled by a switch 22I (Fig. 2) which may bemounted upon the table portion I1 or at any other convenient location.While the motor is in operation the worm wheel 30 rotates freely aboutthe shaft 26 (Fig. 3) except at such times as the clutch 3I operates toengage this worm wheel with the shaft. The clutch is arranged to beoperated from the front side of the machine by a spring-pressed rod 222extending beneath the table portion I'l through the front wall andcarrying a thumb or finger piece or plate 223. This rod preferablyisarranged to pass through the front wall of the housing at a pointrelatively close to the ticket attaching mechanism so that the thumbpiece 223 may be engaged by an operator with a straight-in motion whichmay be the same movement required to insert material to be ticketedabove the anvil of the ticket attaching mechanism. When the thumb pieceis pressed inwardly the clutch is engaged during one revolution of thecam shaft, thereby to complete one cycle of operations, after which theclutch automatically snaps out in well-known manner.

The tickets to be operated upon and attached to the material arepreferably in a continuous strip which convenientlymay be supplied in agroll from which the tickets are fed through the machineas previouslyset forth'herein. The pin strip I35 may also advantageously be providedin roll-form. These two rolls may be carried by a magazine (Figs. 1 and3) comprising a cylindrical wall 2 having 'a central vertical partition'or web extending diametrically therein to separate the magazineintoseparate compartments for the different rolls. This partitioncarries a centrally disposed axially extending pin 243which extends intoeach of the compartments and is adapted to support apertured blocks -onwhich the rolls are mounted. Removable side plates 246 and 241 areprovided for closing the *respective compartments and may convenientlybe releasably attached to the end portions of the pin. 2.43inanyapproved manner.

Thecyiindrical wall 24I is formed with or mounted upon a pedestal 248which is secured to the top of table portion I1 of the housing (Fig. 3).At the forwardside of the magazine opposite the compartment'ior the pinstrip the cylindrical wall 2 is provided with an out wardly anddownwardly curved guideway 249 which is arranged to register with thestrip guiding means I36 (Fig. 1) and preferably to bear against the topedge of the back plate I31 of this strip guiding means. Theforward sideof the magazine is also provided with a bracket arm 25I to which thefixed pivot or stub shaft 69 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the inking arm may beattached. On the rear side of the housing opposite the compartment forthe strip of tickets the cylindrical wall 24I is provided with a slot 25tickets and the rolled pin strip are mounted in 30 the magazine. The endof the strip of tickets is then passed through the opening in themagazine downwardly around and beneath the curved rear portion of theguide strip 89 and into the ticket feeding and guiding means. theleading end of this ticket strip is advanced substantially to a positionto register with the cutter slot in the guideway, although this is notnecessary, for so long as the ticket strip extends in the guideway for asuflicient distance to be engaged bythe feed pawl 5| (Figs. 5 and 6) thestrip will be adjusted automatically to the proper position in thisguideway after one cycle of operation. The pin strip is passed throughthe guide 248 and the forward end of the strip is 4 folded along theweakened portion I46 with the fold edge extending outwardly. This foldedpor-. tion is then inserted in the vertical slot I4I (Fig. '10) andcarried around the shoulder I42 to the feeding rollers I41 and I46. Byraising the thumb piece I81 (Fig. 4) the feeding rollers may be easilyseparated to receive the pin strip which is pulled through these rollersfar enough to bring a pin into the guiding grooves I53 and I54 of theguiding means I36 (Fig. 10). The 5 pin strip having been pulled taut inthis position, the thumb piece I81 is released and, assuming the springI64 to be under the proper tension, the device is ready for operation.

The material to which a ticket is to be attached may be grasped oneither side of the point to which the ticket is to be secured andinserted above the anvil. The same motion may be effective fordepressing the thumb piece or plate 223 and tripping the one-revolutionclutch. The various parts of the apparatus operate in properly timedrelation, as previously set forth, to advance, sever and print a ticket,and finally. to bring the latter to the position shown at the right-handend of Fig. 9. On arriving at this position the beak 2M swingsdownwardly causing the spear-like point to enter between and separatethe piles of the ticket while the latter is substantially fiat, andthusthis point forms 1 Preferably 85 the anvil, in the manner illustrated inFig. 10.

- ing.

from single printing on short tickets to double Asthe point of the pinis advanced to pierce the ticket the second time, the lower grooved edgeof the beak guides the point of the pin into the opening formed by thebeak. While the point of the pin is being inserted in this way theticket is supported on its lower side by the cusp I103. The beak 20! 'isthen moved upwardly by the slide bar so that the point is withdrawn fromthe ticket which is removed from the machine as the next ticket isadvanced to the position shown in Fig. 10.

As the pin driver mechanism advances to the position shown in Fig. 10,the block it?! engages the abutment Mid and rocks the strip M3 in aclockwise direction about its pivot. This moves the pin strip away fromthe guiding edge of the inner strip 539 and also forces the marginaledge of the pin strip longitudinally along the pins carried thereby.This forms a more distinct fold in the pin strip and has the effect ofdrawing the lateral edges thereof toward each other and away from theguiding edges of the inner guide strips E38 and i391, and in this wayprepares the pin strip for the next step advancemovement.

It will be evident that the action of the movable strip Mil maybe madesufiicient to compress or preform the lateral edges of the pin strip tothe form required for these edges to fit within the. converging slotformed by the inner strips i153 and are after the next step advance ofthe pin strip. While this is a very simple operation it provides aclearance for the lateral edges of the pin strip during at least aportion of the step advance movement thereof and thereby reduces oreliminates the resistance which otherwise would oppose this, stepadvance movement due to the necessity of relying 'upon the convergingedges of the strips i353 and H33 for moving the lateral edges of the pinstrip toward each other and longitudinally of the pins. As the pindriver is withdrawn the movable strip M3 swings back to thepositionshown in Fig. 11. Preferably the lower edge of the movable stripuse is curved convexly to engage the pin driver rod with a lightfrictional contact. This relatively light engagement between these partsis sufiicient to return the movable strip'i id as the pin driver rod iswithdrawn.

From the foregoing it will be evident that one of the duplicateprintings on long tickets (the one on the foremost end of the ticket inthe illustration) is effected while the ticket is at the severingstation, and before it is further advanced toward the attaching station,the ticket being severed just before or just after or concomitantly withthis printing but preferably after the print- It will also be understoodthat to shift printing on long tickets it is merely necessary.conjointly to shift the handle 8| and the strip as. f

of dry goods. As shown in Fig. 14 the ticket strip 30I is fed from areel 302 to a guideway having overhanging shoulders 303 at each side,the guideway extending from the rear to the 7 front of the machine. Thestrip is fed along this guideway step by step by a feed pawl 304 havinga tooth 305 at each side of the guideway for engagement in the marginalnotches 306 in the strip, the teeth being carried by plate 301 which isadjustably mounted on the pawl at 308. The pawl is reciprocated back andforth along the guideway by means of a cam-actuated arm 309. A U-shapedband' 3l0 of sheet metal, having its upper shorter leg 3 adjustablymounted I 3 on the bracket 3 by means of a longitudinal slot in the legand a nut 3H3 and its lower longer leg 3M extending under the feed pawl304, lifts the pawl from the ticket strip on' the return stroke, therear faces of the teeth 305 being beveled as shown in Fig. 16 to rideover the notches 303 and the front end Bio-of leg 3H1. By'adjusting theleg 3H1 lengthwise of the guideway the pawl may be caused to feed eithera short-ticket or a long-ticket strip the length of 1) a single ticketat each cycle of operations, it being understood that the stroke of thefeed pawl is at least equal to the length of the longest ticket to beused in the machine.

In this embodiment the foremost ticket is fed y to attaching positionbefore it is severed from the strip, the ticket M6 being shown in thisposition in Figs. 15 and 16.v When in this position the foremost ticketis severed by a cutter 3H mounted on the lower end of a vertically,recip- 3) rocatlng head 3H8 which slides in a guideway 1H9 mounted on abracket 320 of the frame 32L the beveled cutter itli'cooperating with astationary cutting edge 322 which constitutes theend of the bed of theguideway for the ticket strip. The

head 368 is moved up and down by an arm 323 fast on a shaft 32% whichisosclllated by a cam inside the frame 32!. As the ticket is severed itis gripped between the lower end of the head 388 and a spring finger325, the rear end of which l) is'mounted on the frame as shown at 326 inFig. 14 and the forward end of which swings downwardly with thehead'while yieldingly holding the severed ticket against the fiat lowerend of the headat the rear end of the ticket.

With the severed ticket thus clamped'bet'ween the head 3% and the springfinger 325 the ticket is carried downwardly until it is impaled upon thetwo points 32?. Just before the ticket reaches the points 323 it engagesthe spring pressed plunger 320 which is pressed downwardly against theaction of spring 329, whereby the ticket is yieldingly held against thelower face of the head on both sides of the points while being impaled.

After the ticket isthus impaled upon the points 32 1 a staple is forcedupwardly along grooves in the opposed sides of the points, the points ofthe staple being bent toward each other, by the lower granted April 19,1932 for Stapling machine and it will thereforebe sufficient for thepurpose of C5 the present disclosure merely to point out that thestapling wire 33f is fed from a reel 332, by feed'rolls 333 and 334actuated by a pawl and ratchet, the pawl of which is shown at 335,

through a guide 333- to the staple-forming and 73 driving mechanismwhich is fully disclosed in my prior patent.

Before the foremost ticket is severed .it is printed by a printing head331 mounted'on an oscillating arm 333. During each cycle of opera- 75tions the printing head moves downwardly to print the ticket twice and,while the feed pawl 304 is in foremost position it makes athird partialdescent to press the printing type against the ink pad 339 mounted inthe upper face of the forward end of the feed pawl. During each cycle ofoperations the feed pawl moves forward in two steps, namely, from therearmost position shown in Fig. 16 approximately half way to the cutter3" in the first step and the rest of this distance in the second step;and the printing head 331 moves downwardly to make an imprint on theticket before each step. Thus when using long tickets as illustrated inFigs. 15 and 16 thefirst imprint is made on the forward end of theticket either at the end 'of the cycle for attaching the precedingticket or at the beginning of a new cycle before the ticket is advancedthe first step by the feed pawl. After the first step and before thesecond step the printing nead descends a second time to make an imprintonthe rearward end of the ticket. Theticket is then advanced to theposition occupied by ticket 3I6 in Fig. 16 whereupon it is severed andattached as aforenotches 306 at the extreme end of the return stroke.Consequently the first forward step of the feed pawl is ineffective toadvance the ticket strip and the printing head therefore makes twoimpressions on the short ticket in the same location. Otherwise the modeof operation when using short tickets is the same as when using longtickets.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 13 and 16 each cycle of operations isinitiated by depressing the lever, thus actuating a clutch as abovedescribed in connection with the preceding embodiment of the invention.The mechanism is preferably operated by a motor inside the casing 321 ina manner sim'lar to that above described in connection with Figs. 1 to12, but a handwheel'35l is' provided to turn the mechanism by hand inadjusting the parts, threading in a new ed upon, printing meansalongsaid track for printing each ticket, a rotary shaft, means operable bysaid shaft during one revolution thereof for actuating said printingmeans to print each short ticket in one location and each long ticket intwo locations, means for producing relative movement lengthwise of theticket between each long ticket and said printing means betweensuccessive printings, and means for adjusting the ticket feed to eitherlong or short tickets.

2. A machine for feeding, cutting, and printing either short or longtickets and the like, comprising a track for guiding a strip of ticketsto a delivery station, a cutter for severing the foremost ticket fromthe strip,. printing means adjacent said cutter in advance of saidstation for printing each ticket, a rotary shaft, means operable by saidshaft during one revolution thereof for actuating said printing means toprint each short ticket in one location and each long ticket in twolocations, means for producing relative movement edgewise of the ticketbetween each long ticket and said printing means between successiveprintings, and means for adjusting the ticket feed to either long orshort tickets.

3. A machine for feeding, cutting, and printing either short or longtickets and the like, comprising a track for guiding a strip of ticketsto a de- 20 livery station, a cutter for severing the foremost ticketfrom the strip, printing means adjacent said cutter in advance of saidstation for printing each ticket, a rotary shaft, meansoperable by saidshaft during one revolution thereof for actuating said printing means toprint each shortticket in one location and each long ticket in twolocations, one printing being effected while the strip is in position tosever said foremost ticket, means for .producing relative movementedgewise of the ticket between each long ticket and said printing meansbetween successive printings, and .means for adjusting the ticket feedto either long or short tickets.

4. A machine of the type referred to for operating upon either short orlong tickets, comprising a track for guiding a strip of tickets to anattaching station, printing means along said track for printing eachticket, a rotary shaft, means operable by said shaft duringonerevolution thereof for actuating said printing means to print each shortticket in one location and each long ticket in two locations, means forproducing relative movement longitudinally of said trackbetween eachlong ticket and said printing means between successive printings, meansfor adjusting the ticket feed to either long or short tickets, and acutter-for severing the foremost ticket from the strip while one of thetickets is in printing position.

5. A machine of the type referred to for operating upon either short orlong tickets, comprising a track for guiding a strip of tickets to anattaching station, means along said track for printing each short ticketin one location and each long ticket in two locations, means for pro 1ducing relative movement longitudinally of said track between each longticket and said printing means between successive printings, means foradjusting the ticket feed to either long or short so tickets, and acutter for severing the foremost ticket from the strip after the firstprinting thereon and before the ticket is further advanced along thetrack toward said station.

6. A machine of the type referred to for operating upon either short orlong tickets, comprising a track for guiding a strip of tickets to anattaching station, a cutter for severing the foremost ticket from thestrip at a severing position in advance of said station, selectivelyoperable 7 means between said cutterand said station for printing eachshort ticket in one location'and each long ticket in two'locations, oneprinting on each long ticket being eflected while the ticket is insevering position, means for producing rela- 7 tive movement betweeneach long ticket and the printing means between successive printings,and s'electively operable means for feeding long-ticket strips andshort-ticket strips by steps proportional to the lengths of the ticketsrespectively.

7. A machine of the type referred to for operating-upon either short orlong tickets, comprising a track for guiding a strip of tickets to anattaching station, a cutter for severing the foremost ticket from thestrip at a severing position in advance of said station, selectivelyoperable means for printing each short ticket in one location and eachlong ticket in two locations between said cutter and said station, atleast one printing being effected while the ticket is in severingposition, means for producing relative movement between each long ticketand said printing means between successive printings, and selectivelyoperable means for feeding long-ticket strips and short-ticket strips bysteps proportional to the lengths of the tickets respectively.

8. A machine of the type referred to for operating upon either short orlong tickets, comprising a track for guiding a strip of tickets to anattaching station, a cutter for severing the foremost ticket from thestrip, a printing head along the track for printing each ticket, arotary shaft, means operable by said shaft during one revolution thereoffor twice impressing said head upon each ticket, and means for producingrelative movement longitudinally of said track between the ticket andprinting head between successive printings on long tickets only, wherebyshort tickets are printed in one location and long tickets are printedin two locations.

9. Means for advancing tickets to an attaching station and to facilitateprinting one or more times on each ticket duringthe advance thereofcomprising successively operable feeding members engageable with thetickets for advancing the latter through successive predeterminedstrokes, means for causing one of said feeding members to dwell duringits stroke to provide for printing, said feeding members being timed tocause a ticket to dwell during the progressive advance thereof andbetween successive strokes of said members to provide for printing atthis point.

10. Means for advancing tickets to an attaching station and tofacilitate printing one or more times on each ticket during the advancethereof comprising successively operable feeding members engageable withthe tickets for advancing the latter through successive predeterminedstrokes, means for causing one of said feeding members to dwell duringits stroke to provide for printing, said feeding members being timed tocause a ,ticket to dwell during the progressive advance thereof andbetween successive strokes of said members to provide for printing atthis point, and printing means disposed for printing on the forwardportion of a ticket during the first dwell thereof and on the succeedingportion of the ticket during the next dwell.

11. Means for advancing tickets to an attaching station and tofacilitate printing one or more times on each ticket during the advancethereof comprising successively operable feeding members engageable withthe tickets for advancing the latter through successive predeterminedstrokes, means for causing one of said feeding members to dwell duringits stroke to provide for printing, said feeding members being timed tocause a ticket to dwell during the progressive advance thereof andbetween successive strokes of said members to provide-for printing atthis point, printing means disposed for. printing on one portion of aticket during the first dwell thereof and on the succeeding portion ofthe ticket during the next dwell, and selective means for causing theprinting means to operate during only one of said dwells and during bothof said dwells.

12. Means for advancing tickets of a strip to an attaching station andfor severing'tickets and printing one or more times on each ticketduring the advance thereof, comprising successively 0perable feedingmembers engageable with the tickets for advancing the latter throughsuccessive predetermined strokes, means for causing one of said feedingmembers to dwell during its stroke to provide for printing, said feedingmembers being timed to cause a ticket to dwell during the progressiveadvance thereof and between successive strokes of said members toprovide for printing at this point, and means for severing a ticket fromthe strip during the latter dwell.

13. Means for advancing tickets of a strip to an attaching station andfor severing tickets and printing one or more times on each ticketduring the advance thereof, comprising successively operable feedingmembers engageable with the tickets for advancing the latter throughsuccessive predetermined strokes, means for causing one of said feedingmembers to dwell during its stroke to provide for printing, said feedingmembers being timed to cause a ticket to dwell during the progressiveadvance thereof and between successive strokes of said members toprovide for printing at this point, and means for severing ,a ticketfrom the strip during one of said dwells.

14. Means for advancing long'or short tickets of a strip to an attachingstation'and to facilitate printing one or more times on each long ticketand once on each short ticket during the advance thereof, comprisingsuccessively operable feeding members engageable with the tickets foradvancing the latter through successive predetermined strokes, selectivemeans for rendering that feeding member, which operates through thefirst of said strokes, effective during substantially its full .strokefor feeding long tickets and effective during only a portion of itsstroke for feeding shorter tickets, means for causing the other of saidfeeding members to dwell during its stroke to provide for printing, saidfeeding members being timed to cause a ticket to dwell during theprogressive advance thereof and between successive strokes of saidmembers to provide for printing at this point.

15. Means for advancing long or short tickets of a strip to an'attachingstation and to facilitate ing members to dwell during. its stroke toprovide for printing, said feeding members being timed to cause a ticketto dwell during the progressive advance thereof and between successivestrokes of said members to provide for printing at this point,-and meansfor severing a ticket from the strip during the latter dwell.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, 7

the combination of a printing member, means for advancing tickets to theprinting member, a plurality of cam surfaces, and means for renderingthe printing member responsive to only one or to more than one of thecam surfaces, whereby data may be printed only once or a plurality oftimes on each ticket.

17. The combination of a printer operable in a substantially fixedposition, means for advancing successive tickets each in a progressivestroke to and beyond the printer, a cutter spaced from the printer forsevering a long ticket when one end portion thereof extendssubstantially across the printing position of the printer, and means forcausing each ticket to dwell in the latter position relative tothe'printer and also when in another position for another printing,whereby the printer may be operated during each of said dwells forprinting duplicate data on long tickets or the printer may be operatedduring only one of said dwells for printing once on long or shorttickets.

18. The combination of a printer operable in a substantially fixedposition, means for advancing successive tickets each in a progressivestroke to and beyond the printer, a cutter spaced from the printer forsevering a long ticket when one end portion thereof extendssubstantially across the printing position of theprinter, means forcausing each ticket to dwell when in the latter position relative to theprinter and alsowhen in another position for another printing, and meansfor operating the cutter during one of said dwells, whereby the printermay be operated during each of said dwells for printing duplicate dataon long tickets or the printer may be operated during only one of saiddwells for printing once on long or short tickets.

19. Apparatus of the class described compris ing means for severingtickets from a strip, a movable member having a full stroke for feedinglarge tickets to the severing means, means for causing said member to beeffective only during a part of its stroke for feedingsmaller tickets,printing means spaced from the severing means to print on a ticketextending substantially a full stroke beyond the severing means, meansfor advancing a ticket from the severing means in part stroke lengthswhereby the printing means may print duplicate data' on large tickets..

'20. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for severingtickets from a strip, a movable member having a full stroke for feedinglarge tickets to the severing means, means for causing said member to beeffective only during a part of its stroke. for feeding smaller tickets,

printing means spacedfrom the severing means to print on the forward endportion of a large ticket which has been advanced a full stroke throughthe severing means,--means for advancing tickets from the severing meansto the print-' ing means in part stroke lengths correspondingapproximately to the part stroke advance of the -anism to bring theticket to a second printing 5 position, and selectively operable meansfor actuating the printing means while the ticket is in both of saidprinting positions or only while the 1 ticket is in one of said printingpositions, whereby data may be printed only once or in duplicate on eachticket.

22. Apparatus for severing and printing tickets of different sizescomprising severing mechanism, printing means disposed within the lengthof the larger size ticket from the severing mechanism, a movable memberhaving a full stroke for advancing a ticket strip through the severingmechanism to bring the larger size ticket in position for severing andpartly beneath the printing means in a first printing position, meansfor 20 causing the movable member to be effective only during a part ofits stroke for advancing smaller tickets through the severing mechanismto. position for severing, means for advancing severed tickets beneaththe printing means in part strokes, the latter means being effective forbringing the larger tickets to a second printing position and forbringing the smaller tickets beneath the printing means.

23. Apparatus for severing and printing tickets of different sizescomprising severing mechanism, printing means disposed within the lengthof the larger size ticket from the severing mechanism, a movable memberhaving a full stroke for advancing a ticket strip through the severingmechanism to bring the .larger size ticket in position for severingpartly beneath the printing means in a first printing position, meansfor causing the movable member to be 'efiective only during a part ofits stroke for advancing smaller 40 tickets through the severingmechanism to posi-- tion for severing, means for advancing severedtickets beneath the printing means in part strokes, the latter meansbeing effective for bringing the larger tickets to a second printing 46position and for bringing the smaller tickets beneath the printingmeans, and selectively operable means for actuating the printing meansonly while each ticket is in said second printing position for printingdata once on all tickets, this 50 means also being operable foractuating the printing means while a ticket is in each of said printingpositions for printing data in duplicate on the larger tickets.

24. A machine for operating on either shortticket strips or'long-ticketstrips as the tickets are fed to an attaching station, means forsevering the tickets from the strip in advance of said station, meansfor attaching the severed tickets to merchandise at said station, meansfor printing the tickets, mechanism for actuating said means in cycleseach comprising the severing of a single ticket and the attachment of asingle ticket'by a single fastening, and selectively operable means foradjusting the ticket feed 55 to either short or long tickets and causingsaid printing means to print each short ticket in one location and eachlong ticket in two locations during each cycle.

25. A machine operating on either short-ticket strips or long-ticketstrips as the tickets are fed to an attaching station, means forsevering the tickets from the strip inadvance of said station, means forattaching the severed tickets to merchandise at said station, means forprinting the

